The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-29
ONE DAY AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY.
. the Editor of tn. Indianapolis journal.


rich mines of it's fertile fields; of its diversified
the prowess of its soldiers in war and OF the love
of law and order OF its citizens in peace They
are proud of the nice balance of parties which is
SO sensitive that at time in the last thirty
years has any party leadership defied the peo-
pies moral sense. their convictions of political
right without being rebuked by political over
throw at the next ensuing election. They are
proud. too, of its achievements in literature aud
science; of its scholars and poets of the line of
eminent statesmen who. from the admission Of
the State into the Union, have at all times occu
pied the front rank as patriots. leaders.
tors and jurists. They are proud of the I'M
equaled prudence of management which has Sc
cured to the State the largest common-schoo
fund of any State il the Union; and they are
proud of a system of common schools Of unsur-
passed excellence.
But in the wise and comprehensive policy
adopted by the fathers, it would be too much to
expect that no mistake should be made: it wonid
be surprising indeed. if improvement could
be hoped for in any direction. Connecticut has
Yale; Massachusetts, Harvard; Michigan Ann
Arber; New Jersey Princeton, and each of
these institutions chiefly owes its greatness to
the generous, fostering care with which the
State or its people, or both. have augmented its
resources, sustained its efforts and bestowed
upon it patronage. Indiana too, has its State
University, of which its people have right to
be proud; not, indeed. for the size and number
of its buildings, for they too small and too
few, but which, neverless. wall merits the pat
ronage of the State and the generous support OF
the people.
Would it be too harsh criticism to be made
by one who shares in the common civic pride of
the great Common wealth, that i'll the past the
State benefactions have lost their best effects by
too great diffusion! Would it be too much to
say thati would promote the interests of higher
education, OF ripper culture, of a more thought
full and influential citizenship, if the State
would emulate the example OF some of
the other States, and concentrate it's efforts and
patronage in building up a great State unver-
sity that would attract from all borders those
young men and women who thirsting for
knowledge, and who would naturally seek an in
sttuton in tbs State where their lot is cast, and
their fortune to be won! For it goes without say
ing that any young man of am btion-as all college
students are-would prefer an institution that
reflects the spirit of our people. if in so doing he
| could realize the aspirations for higher knowl-
edge. 1t can hardly be denied that in the past
| all these REQUIRE ments have not been met The
| consequence has been that crowds of our young
! men have fiocked to Ann Arbor, Cornell or
| other Institutions of the East. Intellectually,
this has resulted in great loss to the State-for
| many Of our brightest youths have been lost to
the State by superior attractions there, as every
| where, offered to young men of genius for liter
| ature science, scholarship who have found ad
| mission to their faculties, positions with the
press. and III other intellectual callings whore a
| career is open to talent.
| Not all the people of our State are aware, as
| they should be, Of the recent radical change of
/ educational policy which the State University
| has adopted. At its head is man OF genius,
| who is dedicated, heart and soul, to his work.
| DIR. Jordan is too we'll known in the field of
| To pped Ha ic tooa pth uc icctic
votary OF science to seek crave mere notori-
! ETY.. One cannot withhold respect from a scholar
| who lovingly does an infinite amount Of drudg-
| cry in the dry bones of science; examining,
classifying, naming; and then proof-reading and
| publishing portly volumes of dry, hard facts, in
| comparison with which the Patent Office reports
read like French novel. But it is precisely
| this kind Of work that all-enduring reputation
! rests, in science and scholarship. Not only
| is he thoroughly scientific in spirit; his
reputation rests soldly on original Investigations
and contributions to science. and is. withal,
| allied with such an unassuming modesty that
one would hardly divine that he also has liter
airy talent of high order. His popular papers
on science are few. as well becomes a man who
/ loves science more than reputation; but he has
/ genius for the iieke presentation of scientific
facts tha. justities much hope of his futures that
I is to say, he has vein of subdued and inimita-
bic humor, united with naive and simple style
| of exposition which recalls the kindred genus
| of Irving In literature. and which enables him
| to present the facts of science to the mind I'M
initiated in It's mysteries, vivid realities which
| leave an ineffaceable impress on the memory.
Moreover, he thoroughly comprehends the con-
| ditions and needs OF higher education, the
nature OF true university. and he is supported
by a faculty Of able men, all young ambitious
in the best sense of the term. who have the in
stincts of scholarship and are imbued with the
| spirit of improvement.
Under these genial influences the State Uni
versity has taken new departure. The pur-
pose is not to multiply schools, not to expand,
but to deepen the foundation; to concentrate
aim and effort; to promote a more advanced
scholarship The rapid increase of attendance
is one of the fruits of this wise policy. An
other year will see the looping off of the prepar
atory school, whose work properly belongs to the
high-school and academy. This will increase
the responsibility and heghten the efficiency of
these minor institutions, and an i'm
proved quality in their work will nee
essarily follow. The aims Of the uni.
yersity will be ever higher; higher the stand
ard of admission; the encouragement of
postgraduate study; more profound attainments
in special branches; more solid and enduring &C.
complshments by the student which will be re-
tanned and therefore useful throughout life.
The effect, in the formation of correct mental
habitudes, will be of incalcuable benefit to any
man thus trained. as all will attest who have
observed the different style of work done by all
sorts of people in life. For, other things being
equal, men succeed in proportion as their work
is well done, which almost always depends on
the mental habit early acquired. The people of
Indiana have good reason to be proud of the
State University, and to augur well of its future.
What it needs is recognition, not for its name
but for its work and spirit. Popular patronage
is assured to it. and i: willincrease in proportion
it is appreciated at its real worth. 1t does no,
much deserve command the generous ap
probation and support of the State. Its work
does not conflict with that of the other colleges
and universities of the State which represent the
various religious denominations Their mis-
sions are accordant, their aims sympathetic
even if somewhat divergent
One days visit to Bloomington led to these
observations and has induced this public recog
milton of the present character and future pros
poets of State university. To those wht
may doubt or who may suspect that this is ..ar
inspired tribute" my only answer will be--go ant
see. W. L. PENFIELD.
! AUBURN, Ind.
SULLIyAN's PLANS.